Plasterer&#39;s guide



Oct. 3', 1950, v-; H. oscvAr-z GUIDE Filed 'Jaah 1e. 1947 fig? figg/1 fly] ' I mventor )ZL/@ffy Oscar Bu 4 lV/ Gttomeg Oct. 3, 1950 l H, OSCAR 2,524,634

PLASTERER'S GUIDE Filed Jan. 16. 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 :inventor Gttorneg Patented ct. 3,v T195'() UNITED STATES y PATENT OFFICE'.

2,524,634 PLASTERERS GUmE Harry Oscar, New York, N. Y. Application January 16, 1947, Serial No. 722,409

4 Claims. (Cl. 33-85) This invention relates to a plasterers guide.v More particularly, this invention is concerned with a portable level or guide which may be repeatedly used in the plastering of wall surfaces immediately adjacent a door or window opening.

When plaster is to be applied to a wall surface, all door and window openings must be prepared in a manner to permit the application of plaster to the wall surface adjacent the edge of the frame defining the opening. This is usually done by nailing strips or slats of wood to the studs which form the opening so that they project outwardly of the studs the proper distance allowing for the thickness ofthe plaster base plus the coating of plaster to be applied thereto. The slats or strips are used as a ground or leveling means to insure a smooth plaster coating adjacent the edge of the opening. When the plastering operation is completed the slats or strips are torn out or leftrin place. In either case,l this method involves a substantial amount of labor and expense to prepare each opening, as well as a waste of material, since the slats or strips cannot be used over again. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a plasterers level or vguide for door or window openings which may be tted to the opening and after the plastering operation in connection with the particular opening has been completed, may be removed from the opening and used in a similar manner for other openings.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a device of the character described, collapsible guide means which may be readily transported in its collapsed condition yet may be easily opened up into a structure which is usable as a plasterers level or guide for door or window openings.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a device of the character described, means for temporarily securing a plasterers level or guide within a door or window opening during the plastering operation but which may be read-V ily detached after the plastering operation has been completed.

Yet another object of this invention isv to provide in a device of the character described, a plasterers level or guide including side, header and bottom members, wherein the various members are hingedly connected together whereby the device may be `collapsed into compact form.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in a device of the character described, a plasterers level or guide 'for door or window openings eemprisips a frame wherein the dimensions of the frame members may be adjusted to suit the size of the door or window opening in which the frame is to be used.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide in a device of the character described, frame members which may have their depth adjusted to accommodate variations in overall thicknesses of Walls, plaster bases, and the like.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a strong, durable, compact device of the character described which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy tomanipulate and yet practical and efficient to a high degree 1n use. I

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious, and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in theA features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplied in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope and application will be indicated in the following claims. l

In the y accompanying drawing, in which is shown various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the plasterers level or guide in expanded form;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the guide shown in Fig. 1 in partially collapsed form; Y

Fig. 2A is a perspective View of the guide in collapsed condition;

Fig. 3 is a partial perspective view of a member of the plasterers guide showing means for adjustingone of its dimensions;

Fig. 4 is a partial perspective view of a member of the plasterers guide showing means for securing the guide in use;

Fig. `5 is a perspective view of a wall surface showing the installation of the plasterers guide;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a plasterefs guide embodying the invention and illustrating a modied form of the invention; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective View of a header member which may be used in conjunction with the guide shown in Fig. 6.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, ii! designates a plasterers guide for a door cr window openingand the like. The guide I comprises a pair of similar side members I I, a header I2 and a bottom member I3. The side members I I were rectangular in shape comprising an inner face I 4, an outer face I5 and edge portions I6, II which constitute guide surfaces. rIhe members Il have Va length substantially equal to the heighth of the opening in which the guide is to be used. Each of the side members is formed with a semicircular opening I3 which is used as a hand hold and with an opening I9 for the purpose hereinafter described. The members I I are also formed with openings 28a within which leveling elements are'mounted for view from either of the faces I4, I5. The upper and lower extremities of the members II are formed with L-shaped recesses 2| on the inner faces I4 thereof, which extend to the upper and lower edges respectively of the members II for the purpose hereinafter described.

The header I2 comprises a pair of substantially rectangular sections 22, 23 which are interconnected by a hinge 24. The sections- 22 and 23 comprise edge portions Ia, I'Ia, and are connected at their respective outerextremities to the upper ends of the side members II by means of hinges secured to the inner surface of the sections andthe inner face I4 of the side members. The section 22 is formed with an opening 25a Within which is mounted a leveling element 25. |TheA header I2 has a length substantially equivalent to` the width of a particular door or window opening. The width of the header member I2 is the same as the width of the side members II. The width of these members is determined by the overall width of the studs plus the thickness of the plaster base plus the thickness of the plaster coating to be appliedy to the plaster base. In determining these dimensions, consideration is given to whether plaster is to be applied to one wall surface adjacent a door opening or if wall surfaces on either side of the opening are to be plastered.

The bottom member |33, is similar to header I2 in structure and comprises sections 26, 2l' which are interconnected by a hinge spanning the adjacent lower faces of the sections. The sections 26, 2l: are connected at their respective outer extremities to the lower portionsof side members I l by hinges 2S which are secured to the inner face I4 of the members I I and upper, face portions ofthe sections 26, 21'. It willbe apparent from a consideration of Figs. 2 and 2A thatI the hinge arrangement described', permits the, guide I0 as a whole to be collapsedwith the sections 22, 23 and 26, 2'I`folding inwardly towards each other thereby bringing the side members II' towards each other as shown in Fig. 2A. When in the collapsed condition, a` screw 29a which passes through the aligned openings |9in the-members I'I together with a wing nut 29-is adapted to maintain the structure in its collapsed condition, thereby permittingrv transportation by meansof the hand holds I8.

When using the guide IB'. the device is opened up and placed within the opening formed by the studdingdening the openings and leveling the guide by the use of leveling elements 20, as shown in Fig.' 5. The device is temporarily secured in place by means of securing means 3|] lmounted'within the recesses 2| on the side members I|. The securing means 3U'4 comprises a pointed member 3| havingan offset end portion 32. The member 3| is held within the recess 2| by means of staples 33 which permit vertical as well as rotary movement of the member 3&3. In the inoperative position the pointed portion of member 3| is short of the end portions of the side member and the offset portion 32 lies against the wall. or" the recess 2 I. When the guide IIl .is in its proper position, the member 33 is rotated to bring the offset portion 32 away from the recess well and extending outwardly of face I4. Upon striking the oiset portion 32, the pointed portion of member 3| is driven past the end portions of side member and into engagement with the studding or the like. When the guide II] is to be removed from the opening, the member 3G is driven in the opposite direction, thereby withdrawing the pointed member 3| from its holding position. In lieu of the securing means 30, other temporary securing means may be used, such as nails or screws which pass through thc faces of the side members II, header member I2 or bottom member I3, into temporary engagement with the studding or the like.

It is desirable that the guide IU be adapted for use with walls which diier in their overall thicknesses. To this end, the side members I I may be provided with means for adjustably changing the effective width thereof. Accordingly, the members II may be provided with extensible edge members 34. The members 34 which are angular in cross section, comprise awall 35 having a length Yequivalent to that of the member Iii to which it is attached, and a width equivalent substantially to the thickness of the member I| A wall 36 extends from the wall 35 at right angles thereto and has a length coextensive with the length of the wall 35. The wall 36 is formed with elongated slots 3l'. The member 34 is mountedon the member II with the wall 355 overlying a face of the member and the wall 35 overlying the edge portion of the member. The member 34- is mounted on the member II for movement in a direction outwardly of theedge portion of the member II, by means of a screw 38 passing through the slot 3lk in member 34 and secured in the face of member II. A nut 39 on screw 38 fixes the member 34 in the desired position. By moving the member 34 outwardly of theedgeportion of the member II, the effective width of member I-I- may be accordingly increased and is limited only by the extent of the slot 3T' inthe wall 3B of the member 34.

When the member II is made of wood, a U- shaped metal nosing 40 may be secured to the edge portions and adjacent face portions of the member II and thereby serve as a basefor the overlying member 34; It will be apparent from a consideration of Fig. 3 that the width of member may be changed by the use of adjustable-member 34'to take intoaccount variations in the overall thickness of the studding and adjacent plaster base which denes the door or window opening. The member 34 maybe mounted on either the inner face I4 or the outer face I5 of themembers I-I. It is understood thatv the means for making the effective width of members II adjustable may be also applied to sections 22, 23 of the header member, in a similar manner.-

As shown iny Fig. 5; plaster-may be applied to the wall surface immediatelyv adjacent the door opening, using the edge portions I6; I'I", Ia and I'Ia, of the guide III to guide conventional tools for'spreading the plaster adjacent the opening; It is apparent that edge portions of the guide may be used on either side ofv the opening.

In Fig; 6 there is shown a guide Ia. embodying the invention and illustrating a modied construction. The guide IIla comprises a pair of spaced, parallelside members 5I) interconnected at their upper extremities by a header member 5| Each side member comprises a pair of similar sections 52y which are adjustably secured to each other in edge to edge relationship. Each section 52 comprises an elongated, substantially rectangular member of Wood, metal or the like.

comprising;guide-edges 52a vand. which ,is formedj with a' pairplcut out portions 53 along onee'dge thereof.:y 'The i sections:v 52 are assembled inabutting relationship, with the opposed cutout 'p'ortions`53lforming an velongated slot 54 .between the sections in thejupper and lower portions Y formed with cut out edge portions 5T and which are adjustablysecured togetherin edge abutting relationship by turnbuckles '58' interconnecting the edgeportions 51. The end portions offthe header member, 5l is removably securedto'the upper ends of the side members 50 by a disengageable pinjoint or other means whichwill permit the separation of the header member from the side members. It will be apparent from a consideration of Fig'. 6, thatV the width, of the side members 50 and the header member 5l may be varied by simultaneously turning the turnbuckles 55, 58 in a manner to either spread the component sections apart or to draw them together. This adjustment is desirable to take care of variations in the overall thickness of walls.

It is desirable that the guide Illa be adaptable to door openings of different widths. Accordingly, provision is made for adjustably' positioning the members 5l] with respect to each other thereby permitting the use of the guide for door openings of different widths. To this end, a pair of bars B interconnect the upper portions of the members D below their upper extremities, with each bar engaging a pair of opposed sections 52 as shownin Fig. 6. Each bar `6|) comprises a pair of rods Si, having their outer extremities secured to an aligned section 52 of the opposed members 50. The rods 6l are interconnected at their inner ends by a turnbuckle 62. It' will be apparent that by rotating the turnbuckles 62 in the appropriate direction, the distance between the side members 55 may be suitably adjusted. In changing the relative width of the guide Illa, by this means, it is necessary to supply header members 5I having a length appropriate to the desired spacing between the side members. Since the header member 5l is disengageably secured to the side members, the change can be made with a minimum amount of effort. The guide Illa is alsoprovidedwith means for detachably securing the guide to the studding dening the door opening. To this end, clamping means 63 is secured to the lower portions of side members 50. The clamping means' 63 is adapted to engage the edge portions of the studding against which the guide abuts.

The guide Illa may further include a modied form of header member 5|a which is adapted to be adjustable lengthwise as well as widthwise, thereby dispensing with the need for providing replaceable header members of different widths. The header member 51a comprises four symmetrically arranged, adjustably interconnected sections 64 of wood, metal or the like. Each section 64 is formed with a cut out portion B5. The sections 64 are adjustably interconnected for lengthwise movement by turnbuckles 66. 64 are further adjustably interconnected for widthwise movement by turnbuckles 61. The outer end portions of the sections 64 are provided with outwardly projecting pins 68. The header member 5m may be used in guide lUa in place of the header member 5I. The .header 51a is enside `members 5l! is changed by means of turn- 1 The sections atenas@ saged with the upperportionsl f side members 5t` by means of the pins 68 which are received in appropriate openings in the members'5ll.` When the width of the side members 50 is changedby means of turnbuckles 55, the width ofl a header member 5lal is similarly changed by means of turnbuckles El. When `the spacing between'the buckles162, the length of header member is correspondingly and simultaneously changed 4by means of turnbuckles 66. l

It will thus be seen that there is providedia device in which the several objects of this .invention are achieved, and which is well adaptedto meet the conditions. of practical use.

As various possible embodiments mightfbe m-ade of theV above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth orshown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

If desired, the side members Il may each be formed with a pair of through openings Ia to receive screws lb for attaching the device I0 within theopening in which it is mounted. The screws |8b may be used either in supplement to the attaching devices 30 or instead thereof. The devices It or Illa may be made of wood, metal, plastic material -or any other suitable material.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A plasterers guide comprising a' frame having side bars and end bars extending between the ends of the side bars, said end bars each consisting of sections having outer ends hinged to the side bars for movement from a folded .posi` tion flat against the inner side face of the side bars to an extended position, the meeting inner ends of said sections being hinged to each other for movement from a folded position flat against each other between the side bars to an extendedv position, said side bars having the end portions of their inner faces formedkwith recesses spaced from their ends and having reduced portions extending longitudinally of the side bars to the ends thereof, pins in said recesses extending longitudinally in the extensions thereof having sharpened outer ends and having inner end portions bent to form laterally extending handles, and clips in said recesses straddling said pins and rotatably mounting the pins for turning movement from a retracted position disposing the handles in the recesses-transversely thereof to an extended .position in which the handles project from the side bars, said clips also slidably mounting the pins for longitudinal movement from a retracted position to an extended position in which their sharpened outer ends project from the ends of the frame to anchor the frame in position for use.

2. A plasterers guide comprising a frame having side bars and end bars, said end bars being formed of sections hinged to each other and to the ends of the side bars for movement from a folded position longitudinally of the side bars to an extended position between the side bars, pins extending longitudinally of the inner faces of said side bars and having sharpened outer ends, clips straddling said pins and slidably and rotatably mounting the pins, and handles projecting laterally from the inner ends of the pins and movable from a position flat against the side bars to an extended position laterally of the side bars, the handles when in an extended position constituting .members adapted to be struck and thereby vmove the lpins longitudinally from a retracted position to .an extended position.

3. A plasterers guide comprising a frame having side bars and end bars, `said side bars being formed With recesses in the end portions `of the inner side faces and having .portions extending to the ends of the side bars, pins in said recesses slidable longitudinally from a, retracted position tov an extended position and having sharpened outer ends, said pins being also rotatably mounted and having handles movable from a position in the recesses to an extended position in which they project out of the recesses and laterally kfrom the inner faces of the side bars in position for effecting longitudinal movement of the pins.

4. A plasterers guide comprising a frame `having side bars and end bars, and pins carried by said side bars and extending longitudinally thereof, said pins being slidable froma retracted position to an extended position in which they project from the ends of the frame, said pins having handles movable from a, position close against the side bars to an extended position in which they project laterally from the side bars in a position adapting them to be struck and the pins thereby forced to their extended position. HARRY OSCAR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,004,471 Rose Sept. 26, 1911 1,547,353 Bates July 28, 1925 1,748,605 Helscher et al Feb. 25, 1930 1,836,846 Hannay Dec. 15, 1931 

